Refreshment plate holders



Dec. 8', 1959 J. ALGER 2,916,180

REFRESHMENT PLATE HOLDERS Filed April 21, 19,58

INVENTOR.

JOHN ALGER ATTORNEY United States Patent REFRESI-IMENT PLATE HOLDERS John Alger, Denver, Colo.

Application April 21, 1958, Serial No. 729,860

'2 Claims. (Cl. 220-2336) This invention relates to a refreshment plate holder for buffet luncheons, cocktail parties, etc. and has for its principal object the provision of a simple, light-weight, readily adaptable holder which will enable a glass, or cup, and a plate to be safely and conveniently held in one hand so as to leave the other hand entirely free.

Another object of the invention is to provide a hand plate holder which, while more particularly designed for flexible cardboard or paper plates, will readily and securely support any type of service plate and its contents.

A further object is to combine in a single device, which may be readily held in a single hand, means for simultaneously supporting a drinking glass, a service plate, and a table napkin.

Other objects and advantages reside in the detail construction of the invention, which is designed for simplicity, economy, and efficiency. These will become more apparent from the following description.

In the following detailed description of the invention, reference is had to the accompanying drawing which forms a part hereof. Like numerals refer to like parts in all views of the drawing and throughout the description.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view illustrating the improved glass and plate holder as it would appear in use;

Fig. 2 is a top view of the improved holder;

Fig. 3 is a side view thereof; and

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary detail view illustrating an alternate attachment for the improved holder.

Briefly, the holder comprises a relatively shallow socket or cup having a slightly tapered, annular side wall and a closed bottom 11 combined with an integrally formed plate supporting frame. The plate supporting frame consists of two flaring side frame members 12 which project radially from the cup wall 10 in spaced relation and are joined at their forward extremities by means of an integrally formed cross frame member 13. The upper surfaces of the side frame members 12 are curved downwardly and forwardly as they leave the cup wall 10 to form two inclined surfaces 14, thence continue forwardly in a horizontal plane. The upper surface of the cross frame member 13 lies in this common horizontal plane.

A plate holding tongue member 16 is formed on the cup wall 10 adjacent the upper edge thereof and between the side frame members 12 and projects arcuately forward and downward between the side frame members. A napkin hook 17 is formed on and projects forwardly from the side wall 10 of the cup adjacent one of the side frame members 12 to form a napkin receiving socket 18 therebetween.

It is believed that the use of the improved holder will be fully apparent from the drawing and the above de scription. Briefly, the cup of the holder is held in the one hand and a plate, as illustrated at 15, with its contents is held in the other hand. The holder is then inclined and the tongue member 16 of the holder is then slipped downwardly and forwardly over the inclined edge of the plate. The holder is then tilted back to its normal ice position so as to bring the plate supporting frame to a horizontal supporting position below the plate 15. A beverage glass, such as illustrated at 19, can then be set into the cup of the holder and a napkin, such as illustrated at 20 slipped into the napkin groove 18.

It can be seen that the entire assembly of holder, plate, glass and napkin can be readily, easily and conveniently supported by the left hand leaving the right hand free for conventional uses.

The flexibility of the conventional paper plate allows the rear edge thereof to be slightly distorted as it is slid upwardly beneath the tongue member 16 so as to securely lock it in fixed position on the supporting frame.

In Fig. 4, an alternate attachment has been illustrated which may be used to retain rigid pottery, plastic or metal plates in place. The attachment consists of an elongated resilient tension member 21 secured to the cross member 13 and provided with a terminal hook 22. This enables a rigid plate to be set upon the supporting frame and slid against the inclined surfaces 14 beneath the tongue 16. The spring member 21 is then flexed and the hook 22 is hooked over the forward edge of the plate to constantly urge it rearward into place between the inclined surfaces 14 of the side members 12.

It is, of course, apparent that the cup of the holder can be used as a container for nuts, candy and the like, should it not be desired for glass holding purposes. The device may be formed 'from any desired material and is preferably unitarily molded as a single unit from phenolic plastic.

While a specific form of the improvement has been described and illustrated herein, it is to be understood that the same may be varied within the scope of the appended claims, Without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed and desired secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A holder for holding a paper refreshment plate and a drinking glass in one hand comprising: a relatively shallow cup having a tapered annular side wall and a closed bottom capable of being held between the thumb and fingers of the hand; two spaced apart side frame members formed integrally with and extending forwardly and radially from said side wall in substantial horizontal alignment with said closed bottom, the rear upper surfaces of the two side frame members being arcuately curved forwardly and downwardly as they leave said side wall thence continuing forwardly on a common horizontal plane; a front frame member joining the outer extremities of said side frame members, the upper surface of said front frame member lying in said horizontal plane; a plate holding tongue member formed integrally with said side Wall adjacent the upper edge thereof and extending arcuately forward and downward between said side frame members so as to slip over the edge of a paper plate resting on said frame members to wedge said edge against the arcuately curved surfaces of said side frame members.

2. A holder for holding a paper refreshment plate and a drinking glass as described in claim 1 having a napkin hook formed integrally with said side wall adjacent the bottom of the latter and extending into close relation vn'th one of said side frame members to enable a napkin to be forced between the latter frame member and said hook.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 375,912 Adt Jan. 3, 1888 2,282,663 Majerus May 12, 1942 2,559,054 Walker July 3, 1951 2,625,985 Morgan Jan. 20, 1953 2,689,703 Petzke Sept. 21, 1954 

